New Falcons stadium moves closer to reality

The Panthers and Dolphins are learning how hard it is to finagle public funding for a new stadium absent the threat of relocation.

The Falcons, on the other hand, are making it look easy.

Not long after it looked like Arthur Blank’s team would be building its own open-air venue in the suburbs, the Falcons have struck a deal that will result in the construction of a retractable-roof stadium in downtown Atlanta, with taxpayer money of course.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the city’s economic development board voted 8-1 to approve the issuance of bonds that will provide the public contribution of more than $200 million. The project will include improving the neighborhood around the planned location of the stadium.

“We realize we can’t take a deep breath yet,” Falcons president Rich McKay said. “There’s a lot of work to be done [and] we need to do it right.”

But the hardest part apparently has been accomplished. With no threat of leaving town, the Falcons have managed to get a large chunk of public money for a stadium that the team would like to christen by 2017.

At least the Falcons are an entertaining, winning team on this go around of holding out their hats for public money; when the Dome was built their history was mostly awful and they had to threaten to move to Jacksonville.

Why does Atlanta, GA need a retractable roof stadium? Anyone?
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So they dont play inside a dark dungeon?? Better question is why not? Can pretty much have 100% control of the weather inside of it.

You have likely not been introduced to the concept of artificial electric lighting. How you Hillfolk get access to the internet is beyond me. Do you just hang at the Public Library all day? Sorry, a library is… nevermind.

orlandodawg
I really hope your white. At lest I could chalk that statement up to racism or just plain insenstivity. But, if you’re black and saying something like that you’re stupid. There’s nothing funny about what you’re suggesting. And, if no one else caught what you were trying to apply I did.

Hor2012, calm down champ. The Coka Cola building is in Atlanta, Gladis Knights Chicken n Waffles is in Atlanta and No Limit…well they are actually from New Orleans. Bottom line is that the guy who points racist is the one actually being racist bye implying it was something other than what it was. Good day to you.

“Congrats to the Falcons. Arthur Blank finally gets his stadium. The Georgia Dome was never his. That was built by the Smith family and owned by the Georgia World Congress Center.”
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And this one won’t be his either. It’ll be owned by the GWCC, just as the Ga. Dome is today. Though he does have the right to sell naming rights.

“For the love of God, NO PSL’s!

The middle class season ticket holder (like myself) will no longer be able to afford to renew their accounts.”
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PSL’s WILL be part of the new stadium, they’re already confirmed that. They haven’t confirmed which seats will or won’t, but I’d expect every seat short of the corner nose-bleeds to have them. I for one will not be renewing when the PSL’s go into account. They’re already too expensive, and I’ll build my own ‘state of the art’ venue in my home for less than the cost of the PSL’s.

The only reason Blank wants his new stadium is to keep up with the rest of his buddies in the NFL. Sorry, I don’t and won’t buy this is “good for Atlanta”. The same BS was spewed when the Ga. Dome was built, “it’ll be a state of the art venue”. Now 20 years later it requires a billion dollar replacement, and the Ga. Dome will be demolished to make a parking lot. I guarantee in 20 years Blank (or whoever owns the team then) will be saying the stadium is obsolete and they need a new venue (with taxpayer help of course) once again..